Gardaí say the inquiry into the death of 38-year-old Joanne Lee has been upgraded to a murder inquiry. Superintendent Gerry Delmar spoke at the scene today and Michael O'Toole, Crime correspondent of The Irish Daily Star was there.

The woman who was allegedly raped by Ireland and Ulster rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding couldn't stop staring at Mr Jackson during the night, one of the men's co-accused told police. Conor Gallagher was in court today for the Irish Times and he went through the evidence of the PSNI officer.…

This afternoon, to much fanfare, we finally got sight of the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan. For reaction, the former Environment Minister, Labour Party TD Alan Kelly; and former Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Green Party leader, Eamon Ryan spoke to the programme.…

The Cabinet today chose Sligo to launch a vision for the country called, Project Ireland 2040. Barry Lenihan was there for Drivetime and Philip Boucher-Hayes also reported on what the project contains.

"Economic and Environmental treason" That's the phrase that Denis Naughten, the Minister for Communications , Climate Action and Environment used today to describe illegal dumping. He was speaking at the announcement of a two million euro allocation to use drones in the fight against dodgy Dumping. Brian Lally had this report.…

"The Melting Pot" is a book club with a difference which includes women from County Clare, as well as various African nations, and its weekly meetings take place in a centre for Asylum Seekers. John Cooke joined the club to find out more.

Power sharing collapsed in 2002 after a controversy about alleged intelligence-gathering by republicans at Stormont. After five-years of direct rule from London, power-sharing was restored in 2007 after Sinn Fein agreed to support policing in Northern Ireland. Former US Special Envoy to Northern Ireland, Mitchell Reiss spoke to Drivetime.…

The 19-year-old suspect in a school shooting in Florida has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Nikolas Cruz was a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland where the shooting took place however he had been expelled for "disciplinary reasons". The Guardian's Richard spoke to Drivetime from Florida.…

A new all-time high for rents has now been set for the seventh quarter in a row, according to the latest report from the property website Daft.ie. Sinn Fein's Eoin O'Broin spoke to the programme this evening.

Parents of pre-schoolers, gearing up for Junior Infants will find their attention shifts to matters of education, in a way it never did before. Colmán Ó Drisceoil, principal of Scoil Lorcan in Monkstown, Co Dublin spoke to Drivetime.

This afternoon, the ANC's Secretary General confirmed that party leaders had formally asked President Zuma to resign 'urgently'. Former ANC MP and former South African Ambassador to Ireland, Melanie Verwoerd spoke to the programme.

The woman who alleges she was raped by two Irish International Rugby players has given evidence for an 8th and final day. Francesca Comyn of the Sunday Business Post was in court and she spoke to Drivetime.

The National Transport Authority of Ireland has released recent research that shows 9 out of 10 passengers are satisifed with public transport services. Anne Graham, is the CEO of the National Transport Authority and she spoke to Drivetime.

Muslim clerics and scholars are gathering in Dublin this evening to present a united front in their condemnation of the illegal practice of Female Genital Mutilation. Ifrah Ahmed, who is a survivor of FGM spoke to Drivetime.

The Weinstein Company has been battling bankruptcy and was in talks to sell itself to a group of investors for 500 million dollars with a view to rebranding itself as a female friendly production company. That plan is now in serious doubt, after New York's Attorney General filed a lawsuit yesterday against the company and its founders.…

Nine years ago just as the full extent of the crisis within Ireland's financial services system was becoming apparent the Chairman of Irish Nationwide, resigned suddenly. Two years later, Irish Nationwide was wound up at a cost to the taxpayer of €5.4 billion. Tom Lyons, Deputy Editor at the Sunday Business Post spoke to Drivetime.…

The Winter Olympics got under way in Pyung Chang today, after an opening ceremony which featured Doves, John Lennon's Imagine, and athletes from North and South Korea marching under one flag. Allanah Hill of Korea's KBS World Radio spoke to Drivetime this evening.

Canadian Police say they've found the remains of six people in large flower pots at a property connected to a suspected serial killer. Tornoto Based journalist Leyland Cecco is following this story for The Guardian and he spoke to the programme.

The Board of the Gate Theatre has apologised unreservedly to people who made allegations to it of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by the former Artistic Director, Michael Colgan. The Chariman of the Board is Peter Crowley and he spoke to Sinead Crowley.

A Fianna Fáil motion seeking a review of the tendering process for the National Broadband Plan was backed by 77 votes to 48. Despite having said earlier this week that he would not agree to a review, Communications Minister Denis Naughten seemed less rigid in Committee today. John Cooke has been speaking to some of those affected.…

"Hell to the Yes" was the enthusiastic Twitter response of Cher to an appeal for her to support a Solidarity/PBP bill going through the Dail today on oil and gas exploration. Sinead Mercier is a Green Party researcher who has worked on this issue and brought the bill to Cher's attention and she spoke to Drivetime this evening.…

At 11am tomorrow, Irish time, the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony will kick in "Pyung-chung", South Korea. The Games have been hailed as a historic opportunity, for a de-escalation of tensions between North and South Korea. Korean-based journalist, Donald Kirk spoke to Drivetime.

Over a thousand housholds remain without water this evening as the no drink no wash restrictions continue in parts of County Meath. As it stands, Irish Water are advising customers not drink the water, use if for food preparation or wash in the water until further notice.

A teenager is being questioned in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man in the west of the county last night. The 52-year-old died after he was stabbed several times in Balgaddy. Our crime correspondent Paul Reynolds had this update.

Today, a number of young people came to Leinster House to give their perspectives on cyber safety and cyber bullying to the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. Our reporter Brian Lally had this report.

The Taoiseach Leo Veradkar, has cautioned Theresa May and her British Government not to renege in any way on the preliminary deal agreed with the EU in December. Westminster by the Chief Political Commentator with the Independent, John Rentoul and Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee spoke to Drivetime.…

Angela Merkel's conservatives have finally reached a coalition deal with the Social Democrats Negotiators agreed to the terms of the deal and the division of key ministries, ending one of the last hurdles towards forming a government. Kate Connolly is the Foreign correspondent for the Guardian and Observer and she spoke to the programme.…

The Supreme Court has ruled that the Pro Life Campaign will not be allowed to participate in the forthcoming appeal in relation to the rights of the unborn. Our Legal Affairs Editor, Orla O'Donnell had the latest.

Four patients are still being treated at Univeristy Hospital Limerick this afternoon following a school bus crash near the village of Caherconlish. Our Mid-West Correspondent Cathy Halloran and Fergal Cummins. Consultant in Emergency Medicine at University Hospital Limerick spoke to the programme.

To the hospital with a leaking roof, which has cancelled hundreds of surgeries. The good news the roof is fixed. The bad news surgeries are still off and so, throngs of patients are in chronic pain. Our reporter Barry Lenihan had the details.

From the latest doubts over broadband to another stark warning about the viability of regional rail networks those who live and work in rural areas say they need support and attention like never before. Conor McCarthy of Jennings O'Donovan, Engineers, and Sligo Chamber of Commerce spoke to Drivetime.…

One hundred years ago some women finally won the right to vote in this country. And it was feminists like Hannah Sheehy Skeffington who led the campaign and the suffage movement. Brian Lally had this report.

Rural Ireland, broadband and train services, were on the agenda in the Dail this afternoon with the Taoiseach being asked about the delays in delivering high speed internet services countrywide, and tolday's revelations that most of the country's rail services could be under threat without significant investment.…

Markets have just closed in Dublin and London, on a volatile day of trading. The fall in share prices began in the US on Friday, with values falling a further 4.6% last night. The Irish Times Cliff Taylor spoke to Drivetime.

Earlier today, Dublin City Councillor, Noeleen Reilly, resigned from Sinn Féin. The resignation followed a decision by the party at the weekend to suspend her for six months, after it investigated a complaint from another councillor. Hugh O'Connell is Political Correspondent at the Sunday Business Post and he spoke to Drivetime.…

Francesca Comyn is the Legal affairs correspondent with The Sunday Business Post and has been in court today reporting on the trial of Stuart Olding and Paddy Jackson. Both men deny raping the same woman at a house in south Belfast in June 2016. Fracesca Comyn had the latest for Drivetime this evening.…

One of those suspected of taking part in the Bataclan attack in Paris in 2015, was apprehended by police, following a shoot out in Belgium. Today, Salah Abdeslam went on trial in Brussels. Peter Allen of the Daily Mail is in Brussels, covering the trial, and he spoke to the programme.

The Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly this afternoon said he has agreed to pay a fine of 100 pounds and damage costs of 50 pounds after he removed a clamp from his car over the weekend. He spoke to our Northern Editor, Tommie Gorman.

Gardai have searched over thirty homes in twelve counties as part of an investigation into the distribution of child abuse images. Detective Superintendent Declan Daly, of the Online Child Exploitation Unit, is leading the investigation, and he spoke to Drivetime.

Loading …

Welcome to Player FM

What if radio played only the shows you care about, when you want? Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcast content right now. Try us out on any web browser — desktop, mobile, or tablet.

Hosts/nerds Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are your friendly music buddies with the week's best new music discoveries, including conversations with emerging artists, icons and more. Hear songs that can completely change your day, with humor, heart and (sometimes) a whole lot of noise. Directions for use: Morning commute, the gym, or alone time. (If rash persists, discontinue use.)

New York Times critic Dwight Garner says “The Slate Culture Gabfest is one of the highlights of my week.” The award-winning Culturefest features Slate culture critics Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner debating the week in culture, from highbrow to pop.

Go behind the headlines: From the economy and healthcare to politics and the environment – and so much more – On Point talks with newsmakers and real people about the issues that matter most. On Point is produced by WBUR for NPR.